Hyderabad: Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana, has been facing a series of crises over the past year, according to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao. At a meeting held with MLAs and MLCs from the city, he expressed his concerns about the city’s deteriorating condition under the Congress-led government, headed by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
He resented that Hyderabad, once a symbol of progress and happiness under the leadership of K Chandrashekhar Rao as Chief Minister, had now become a hub of challenges and hardships. He highlighted several pressing issues, including inadequate sanitation, drinking water shortages, and power cuts that have disrupted business, commercial, and industrial activities.
During the meeting, legislators discussed the daily struggles faced by the residents of the city. One of the focal points was the appearance of water tankers in various areas even before the onset of summer. The MLAs also raised concerns about the city’s deteriorating law and order situation, pointing out an alarming rise in land grabbing, crime rates, and a growing sense of insecurity among citizens.
Recalling the golden era of development that Hyderabad experienced during the BRS rule, he mentioned the remarkable IT growth and numerous infrastructure projects, such as the Metro Rail project, SRDP, and SNDP, which positioned the city as a national pride. He expressed concern that the current government lacks the vision or will to maintain Hyderabad’s brand image.
The MLAs reported widespread public disillusionment with the Congress government. Slum dwellers, in particular, are trapped in an unending cycle of problems. Despite promises made during the elections, promises such as issuing new ration cards remain unfulfilled.
Rama Rao stressed that Hyderabad’s transformation during the BRS tenure was guided by a long-term vision, with numerous flyovers, underpasses, and link roads constructed to address traffic woes. Even during the pandemic, these projects were completed on a war footing to improve the quality of life for residents, he said.
In stark contrast, the Congress regime has failed to even maintain the existing infrastructure, resulting in daily traffic snarls, accidents, and damaged roads. The once-effective waste management system, including the introduction of Swachh autos, has crumbled, leaving garbage to pile up in colonies and increasing health risks due to flies and mosquitoes. Public parks, which were developed and protected during BRS tenure, have become vulnerable to encroachments under the current government.
The BRS leader criticised Revanth Reddy for inefficient handling of issues, stating that the public of Hyderabad lost faith in his ability to govern. He reminded the legislators that in the last elections, Hyderabad voters of all communities trusted the BRS to deliver development and voted for its candidates with overwhelming majorities. He urged the MLAs and MLCs to honour their trust by prioritising the public issues and holding the government accountable.
Rama Rao also emphasised that Hyderabad’s tarnished image under the Congress rule was not only detrimental to the city but to the entire State. He remarked that Hyderabad, once ranked as India’s most liveable and lovable city, was now grappling with turmoil due to Revanth Reddy’s misgovernance. He added that the responsibility of safeguarding Hyderabad, the growth engine of Telangana, lies with the BRS.
BRS functionaries were directed to demand immediate fulfilment of promises made by Congress, including the provision of ration cards, housing, and pensions for the poor. Rama Rao warned that if the Congress government continues to stall Hyderabad’s progress, the people of the city will teach them a lesson.